Air SDF mulling joint drills with US bombers

August 31, 2017

TOKYO- The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force is considering having its fighters conduct joint drills with B-1 strategic bombers of the US Air Force over the Kyushu region in southwestern Japan, Japanese government officials told Jiji Press on Thursday.

The move is intended to put pressure on North Korea, which has been continuing military provocations by repeatedly launching ballistic missiles, the officials said.

The B-1 bombers deployed at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam are expected to fly to airspace over Kyushu to engage in navigation training jointly with Japanese fighters.

In their phone talks on Thursday morning, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and US Defense Secretary James Mattis agreed that their countries will put pressure on North Korea in a visible manner.

After the talks, Onodera told reporters that the two countries will conduct joint drills more closely.

On Tuesday, North Korea launched what is believed to be a Hwasong-12 intermediate ballistic missile over northern Japan, after warning earlier this month that it is considering a plan to fire four missiles of the same type over western Japan to areas around Guam. Jiji Press